Makruk, also known as Thai chess, is a captivating strategy game that shares similarities with chess but stands out with its unique rules and pieces. Played on an 8x8 board, the game includes familiar figures like the king, queen, and various pawns, each with distinct movements. The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent's king, a task that requires both tactical finesse and strategic foresight, making Makruk a beloved pastime in Thailand.
Features of Makruk:
Play Against AIs: Hone your skills by challenging artificial intelligence opponents ranging from Easy to Expert levels.
Daily Challenge: Engage your mind daily with a fresh challenge that tests your Makruk prowess.
Global Leaderboard: Compete on a worldwide stage, striving to climb the ranks and prove your mastery.
Share Your Games: Showcase your strategic brilliance by sharing your best moves with friends and family.
Undo & Save/Load: Correct your moves with the undo feature and save your games to pick up where you left off later.
Timer Based Game: Experience the thrill of timed gameplay, adding an exciting dimension to your matches.
Makruk, or Thai chess (Thai: หมากรุก; rtgs: Mak Ruk), traces its origins back to the 6th-century Indian game of chaturanga, making it a close relative of chess. It is considered the most direct descendant of this ancient game, preserving many of the original elements that have evolved differently in other chess variants.
An impressive number of Thais, approximately two million, are proficient in Makruk, while only about 5,000 can play international chess. This statistic highlights the game's popularity and cultural significance in Thailand. According to former world chess champion Vladimir Kramnik, Makruk offers a deeper level of strategic complexity than international chess. Players must meticulously plan their moves, akin to navigating an anticipated endgame in international chess.
Rules
The Pawn (เบี้ย bia): Named after the cowry shell, once used as currency, the pawn moves and captures similarly to its counterpart in international chess. However, it cannot advance two squares on its initial move and, thus, is not subject to en passant capture. Upon reaching the sixth rank, it is promoted to a queen (med).
The Queen (เม็ด met): The weakest piece on the board, the queen moves one square diagonally, resembling the fers in shatranj or the cat sword in dai shogi.
The Bishop (โคน khon): Known as the nobleman or mask, the bishop moves one square diagonally or one square forward, similar to the silver general in shogi.
The Knight (ม้า ma): The knight, or horse, moves exactly as it does in Western chess, jumping over other pieces to move two squares in one direction and then one square perpendicularly.
The Rook (เรือ ruea): The rook, or boat, moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically, just like in Western chess.
The King (Ang): The king moves one square in any direction, akin to its movement in international chess. It also has a special first move, known as Ses, which is a knight's jump, though this move is no longer used in Thailand. The game concludes with the checkmating of the king.
What's New
- Bug fixes have been implemented to enhance your gaming experience.
By integrating these features and rules, Makruk not only provides an engaging and challenging gameplay experience but also maintains a strong connection to its ancient origins, making it a unique and cherished game in Thailand.
Tags : Card
